Samaready heads to Adelaide for Group 1 double

High class mare Samaready will bypass the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12 to chase a Group 1 double in Adelaide.

Samaready could head to Adelaide for a Group 1 double.

Samaready could head to Adelaide for a Group 1 double. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Trainer Mick Price will avoid a clash between the out of form Samaready and his new sprinting sensation Lankan Rupee at ‘The Championships’ and head to Morphettville with the mare to contest the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) on April 26 and the Group 1 $500,000 The Tapestry Wines Goodwood (1200m) on May 10.

The weight for age Sportingbet Classic for the fillies mares looks the perfect race for Samaready to regain her winning form again after a fruitless Autumn Carnival.

“Speaking with Peter Orton (Vinery Stud) about our options, Lankan Rupee is going very well and Sydney is worth $2.5m, but it’s going to be a hard race,’’ Price told The Advertiser.

“I suppose it’s better for her as a broodmare to win Group 1’s rather than chase prizemoney.

“I think it’s OK to take a backwards step with her.’’

“Fillies and mares weight-for-age in the Sportingbet Classic is pretty attractive, as is Morphettville. It’s makes sense.’’

Samaready resumed from a break for an eye catching third to Snitzerland in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 15 but then struggled at her next two outings.

The More Than Ready mare was sent out the favourite when sixth to Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8 and then let the punters down again when ninth of ten as favourite to Spirit Of Boom in the Group 1 $400,000 Hacer Group William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 21.

Price has since had Samaready vet checked and scoped and is pleased with the way she has pulled up and said that the way the track played and the fact that she was ridden on the pace contributed to her poor effort at Moonee Valley.

“She’s sound, she scoped up and she looks well,’’ Price said.

“There was a lot of information about the fence being a no-go zone but drawing barrier one didn’t give us a lot of options and I think she was three lengths more forward than she should have been.’’

“When she won the Moir (at Moonee Valley) she was midfield and was able to swoop around them and that’s probably the right way to ride her.

“She’s only Samaready, she isn’t Black Caviar.’’

But Samaready could replicate the deeds of Black Caviar who travelled to Morphettville in 2012 to take out the Sportingbet Classic – Goodwood double.

The Darren Weir trained Platelet was also able to pick up the double last year.

Samaready could clash again with Spirit Of Boom in the Goodwood with trainer Tony Gollan also considering a trip to South Australia with his Group 1 winning sprinter.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.